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Library and information science practice and research have transitioned from positioning the user in the life of the library to placing the library in the life of the user. A review of OCLC Research themes during the past twenty years identifies a shift in focus from the optimization and quantitative analysis of library collections, systems, and services to the study of the needs and expectations of users of library collections, systems, and services. Just as libraries operate within local and global networks and ecosystems, users, with diverse needs and expectations, are embedded in communities in various ways. This new environment changes the focus from individual decision making to collaborative decision making, centering and emphasizing the importance of relationships and experiences. OCLC's research has addressed these trends, providing a path for library leaders and staff to create their New Model Library that focuses on agility, collaboration, virtualization, and space within their work, collections, and engagement experiences. This framework offers a way to navigate the transition to the library in the life of the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article argues that if libraries are to take leadership in conversations about the ethics and application of machine learning (ML) to cultural materials, they must move beyond the "perpetual future tense" of most library ML proposals and experiments, narrowing the gap separating promises that ML will enhance discoverability for library materials and the library systems through which most users encounter those materials. Even as ML methods have grown more powerful, nuanced, and sophisticated, ambitious hopes that ML might help better identify and describe vast library collections have been largely unmet, at least from the perspective of library patrons, researchers, and students. To address this gap, the article argues that libraries and ML researchers should work together to develop iterative, experimental, and even speculative interfaces that allow users to explore collections through ML-derived patterns that can enhance library data while educating users about ML processes, decisions, and biases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the increasing availability of digital content and systems improvements that have accelerated physical delivery, academic libraries are afforded opportunities to more efficiently provide users access to library materials. A theory for efficient provision of information resources, and thus more efficient use of financial resources, was proposed by one of the coauthors in "The Future of Academic Library Materials Expenditures: A Thought Experiment." The strategies on which the theory is based include purchase on demand, library publishing, and improved open access discovery. This article details the theory and then examines IUPUI University Library's experience of implementing strategies based on this theory. The authors analyze the effectiveness of the theory and offer guidance for libraries considering a similar path. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A bstract Community college libraries provide many different types of supports on their campuses. Are patrons with disabilities aware of the kinds of support and services a library provides? To answer this question, we created and administered a survey and held a focus group. Our results showed that in some ways patrons with disabilities used the library differently from patrons without disabilities. Our focus group revealed the importance of including the voices of patrons with disabilities when discussing the library-user experience. Most importantly, our research was conducted as part of a partnership between the library and the disability-services office on campus. This collaboration will increase access and communication between the library and patrons with disabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the presumed advantages of next-generation library catalogue interfaces is that the user experience is improved--that it is both richer and more intuitive. Often the interfaces come with little or no user-facing documentation or imbedded "help" for patrons based on an assumption of ease of use and familiarity of the experience, having followed best practices in use on the Web. While there has been much gray literature (published on library Web sites, etc.) interrogating these implicit claims and contrasting the new interfaces to traditional Web-based catalogues, this article details a consistent and formal comparison of whether users can actually accomplish common library tasks, unassisted, using these interfaces. The author has undertaken a task-based usability test of vendor-provided next-generation catalogue interfaces and Web-scale discovery tools (Encore Synergy, Summon, WorldCat Local, Primo Central, EBSCO Discovery Service). Testing was done with undergraduates across all academic disciplines. The resulting qualitative data, noting any demonstrated trouble using the software as well as feedback or suggested improvements that the users may have about the software, will assist academic libraries in making or validating purchase and subscription decisions for these interfaces as well as help vendors make data-driven decisions about interface and experience enhancements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study regarding urban academic libraries. The study aims to identify the various factors influencing the perceptions of students of color regarding the library as a welcoming space. It also discusses the qualitative divergent factors along racial lines concerning the student's use of the library. The research is grounded in the theory of symbolic interactionism and Critical Race Theory to focus on three themes that emerged reflecting racial differences among library users.

The article focuses on the LibQUAL+™'s instrument, fundamental assumption and research approach and proposes a functional/technical model of academic library effectiveness. The expanded view of library effectiveness complements LibQUAL+™, which emphasizes it to be dependent upon users' experience of service delivery, as LibQUAL+™ recognizes. The broader model shows that effectiveness depends upon an academic library's operations, the constituency groups it serves, the types of value provided to them, the models for funding libraries, academic libraries' obligations and library users' need for professional information assistance. Supplementing LibQUAL+™ provides a basis for demonstrating both immediate and cumulative academic library effectiveness.

Discusses the usage of desks versus counters in reference areas of academic libraries. Height of reference desks; Impact of online information services on library patronage; Preference of library patrons for a standing librarian.

Examines the reliability and structure of the library service quality measurement tool LibQUAL+. Use of the Web-based LibQUAL+ to measure user perceptions of service quality in academic libraries; Reliability of LibQUAL scores; Identification of the most appropriate scales to report LibQUAL+ scores to librarians using LibQUAL+ to improve service quality.

Examines changes in academic libraries in the U.S. Importance of understanding how and why libraries are changing; Limitations and difficulties of traditional library performance measures; Environmental factors that may help account for changes in library use: Impact of user behavior and preferences on library collections, services and facilities.

Provides information on a study which developed performance and learning goals for academic libraries in the United States. Information on the development of cooperative partnerships with customers; Details on the LibQUAL+ instrument; Conclusions.

Provides information on a study which examined the usage of academic libraries in Eerie, Pennsylvania. Review of literature; Details on research data and constructs; Research methodology.